My Money Mindset - Then and Now

What does it really mean to be good with money?

I read the book “The Psychology of Money” some time back, and what I found interesting was the insight about how much our habits, emotions, and mindset shape our experience with money. It made me think about my own relationship with money, my beliefs and thoughts about wealth, and how that mindset has slowly changed over the years.

Childhood: Money as a Treasure

When I was around six or seven, I read a story in an Enid Blyton book about a little girl who wanted to buy a balloon for three pence. Instead of asking her mother, she figured out a way to earn the money herself by doing small errands for her neighbors. I loved that idea so much that I went to my Mom and asked her to let me do chores and get paid in return.

She was surprised (and a little shocked) and offered to buy me whatever I wanted, but I insisted on it. I wanted to earn money in exchange for doing something. I did her hair, cleaned my cupboard, and earned two rupees. I was thrilled. That money felt incredibly precious, and I was super happy, feeling like I was just like the girl in the book.

I would collect coins like someone might collect stamps or rocks. I rarely spent it. It always filled me with great delight to see my collection grow.

Adulthood: Money as Freedom

As an adult, I am not quite sure how I feel about money. I certainly see it as an important aspect of freedom and independence for myself and my family. It is a way to achieve peace of mind, so I don’t have to worry about paying for medical emergencies, food, or a place to stay.

For a long time, I thought being good with money meant saving as much as possible. I am fairly good at saving. But I started realizing that no matter how much I saved, inflation was quietly eroding its value. Without investing properly, I wasn’t growing anything. I was just preserving.

From Saver to Investor

I started by exploring low-risk small-scale investing, like index/mutual funds and dividends that don’t require active engagement. I am naturally risk-averse and have to work with it to find a comfortable balance between saving and investing.

I have come to understand that investing isn’t just about money. It is also about where we place our attention, energy, and time. Investing in health, well-being, and quality of life matters just as much. To me, true wealth is built on four pillars: a healthy body, a sharp mind, a fulfilling life, and of course, money.

Changing Mindset

Whether or not I ever become wealthy, I want to get better at how I relate to money. I want to see it for what it actually is, a tool for freedom, for creating options, for building something meaningful. I am still figuring out how to move from just holding onto money to learning how to grow it. Because in the end, our mindset is what shapes our outcomes, not just with money but also with life.

I am curious to know your thoughts. What’s your mindset around money? Have you thought about it?

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Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.